Planning Minister backs debt relief for Guyana

A release from the Planning and Development Ministry stated that Robinson-Regis expressed her support at a meeting of the Caucus of Caribbean Governors at the bank’s annual meeting, which she chaired with the Governor for TT at the IDB, and current chairperson of governors of the five-member IDB Caribbean constituency.

In her contribution, the minister suggested that Guyana had first suggested debt relief from the IDB as the bank holds most of that country’s external debt.The release said IDB debt was not included in the recent multi-lateral debt relief initiative of the IMF, International Development Association, the African Development Bank and the World Bank. The Caucus of Five IDB Governors for the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and TT, dealt with key issues that concerned the region and its relationship with the bank.

Robinson-Regis also led a delegation of the Caribbean constituency in similar discussions with new IDB president, Luis Alberto Moreno.

The release said this was the first meeting of its kind at the IDB annual meetings.

Robinson-Regis also held bilateral discussions with Moreno on issues pertaining to the IDB’s portfolio, future lending and technical assistance operations in TT.

The TT delegation at the Brazil meeting also included Central Bank Governor, Ewart Williams, THA Secretary for Finance, Dr Anselm London, and the permanent secretary in the Planning and Development Ministry.

Bilateral discussions were held with Brazil, Chile and Colombia in order to share those countries’ experiences with multi-sector development plans that are similar to TT’s National Strategic Development Plan, Vision 2020.

Discussions were also held with seven international financial institutions, including Citibank and Euro-Money Magazine.